Hi Barbara,
 
I have the same problem...cards not selling well, and living in Finland, I wonder whether that's part of the problem, ie my cards do not correspond to the American taste   or something.
 
As far as your cards are concerned, I think they are BEAUTIFUL. I really love your horse cards and the ones with the little hearts on them. So the only reason I can think of for them not selling well (yet   ) is that there are soooooo many artists out here selling their cards that it's difficult to "be found". I don't know if this helps you at all..but I just wanted to tell that I love your cards and that you really are not the only one wondering about why their cards not selling !
The best of luck to you,
Irma

Hi Barbara,
 
Just had a look at your store.  I really love your bright watercolor paintings.  In my opinion, those are really the best products in your store!
 
I have been here almost a year now and here is my advice.  I used to spend lots of time looking at what others were doing, but I personally found that when I started just concentrating on making my own art the best it could be sales started to come and continue to increase.  When I work on a card, I tell myself I am going to make this card the best it can be.  Sometimes my best work happens just when I am having fun!  I guess my advice is to just have fun with your work--the public will notice the art you actually enjoyed making.
 
Your best bet is to find the categories that your work fits best with instead of trying to fit your work into a category.  
 
You have beautiful work and I am sure you will find the best place for them.  Remember GCU is a growing company.  Maybe a good goal for yourself would always be to sell more than you did last month.
 
Do keep creating!  
Kathy

Barbara,
 
I found your cards quite lovely! You will have to be patient with your potential consumers. One thing - Perhaps you should consider staying away from cards that say "Wedding Invitation" and say something like "Forever In Love". First impressions are lasting. Also, you could add a note stating that you would be willing to personalized any of your cards to the customer's liking.
 
Your watercolor cards are my favorite. I wish you would always feature 1 or 2 of those to let the consumer know of your versatility. Good luck with your store.  
 
- Janie

Hi everybody,  
 
First of all, thanks!!   for all the encouraging words. I needed it, since I was wondering if I am on the right track or site or if this card designing passion, which takes up so much of my time, is, apart from all the joy it gives me, worthwhile.  
I had a look at your stores - you all have great cards in them!
I wish all of you all the best, happy creating, peace and of course - success!
Thanks again    barbara
 
Irma, my favorites are the big apple, close up of beary  happy birthday and teddy bear pilot. Yes, european styles are different, although with globalization and internet, styles are getting more and more similiar all over the world. In fact, browsing thru big stationary shops here in Cologne, I saw quite a few hallmark cards, which surprised me, since there are a lot of good designers in Germany. I do find it sad that the originality of every country sort of disappears and it all becomes the same ie  finding the same shops with the same items in different parts of the world.  
I'm a fan of scandinavian design and marimekko.
 
Kathy, your store is overwhelming! My favorite: the two dogs (white, with whispy hair in front of their eyes) = will you be my ring bearer! They are soo cute. They would not survive long in my household though, I have a tendency to trip over everything that lies on the ground.
Yes, you are right, I also spent lots of time looking at what others are doing. I will concentrate more on my own designs now, and will start painting more - I thought frankly, since I did not see any (or hardly any) watercolors or paintings here on GCU, that american shoppers don't want traditional paintings anymore but only graphic and digital art. But painting is still my big love and passion. There is nothing that compares to the feel of high quality watercolor paper and nice, juicy washes of color!
 
Tom, I love your store, it always cheers me up. You have a wicked sense of humor   . One thing though has me wondering : getting married must be a favorite pastime! I surprises me that " please be my bridesmaid " cards are such a big seller, I always thought it would be birthdays and christmas cards that get sent the most. Or maybe with the high divorce rate and  getting married again, and divorcing, and getting married again, one needs so many bridesmaids?
Thanks for your practical advice, I guess I'm not very strong in that department!
Will take it to heart
 
Guten Morgen, Phrank (is that a different way of spelling Frank?), sprichst Du ein bißchen Deutsch?
I think your Kokgelli/bear claw/dragonfly symbol cards awesome! Great digital work! Danke for encouraging words.
You spellt Trier right, but I live in Cologne, founded around 2020 years ago by the romans. Agrippina, mother of emperor Nero, was born here, and later on, when she became wife of emperor Claudius, gave Cologne its name = Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. Before the city  was known as oppidum Ubiorum. There are still parts of the walls and other things standing, and a museum filled with all the artifacts that get found when building subways. I went to Trier also, very nice city.
 
Janie, thanks for your encouraging comments. Am glad you like my watercolors, will paint more, have disregarded painting the last couple of weeks. My favorite: the flower  with pointed petals (daisy?) I like the design and the way the petals touch all the corners very much. Thanks for your advice. you are right. Wedding invitation does sound very formal and stiff. Forever in love is much nicer!!So from now on I'll put that on the wedding invitations!
 
Linda, thanks for your compliment!  
Marketing is not my strength, will have to improve that. I do not have business associates (let's be optimistic and say: not yet!). I've already sent the link to all my friends, but they are not the card buying/writing/sending types. And I can pack my family in a mini cooper and still have space. But I do have ideas of making more specific categories and now that german umlaut signs like ö ä ü are possible with the new printer, target that niche. At the moment we have quite a big upheaval here, inflation, high gas prices, high food prices, heating prices up by 40%, so that people are tightening their purse strings and are not in the mood to buy paintings or cards very much. Will try to get myself more organized and do all those things!
 
 
Thanks to everybody again
barbara